Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1887-01-07
THE LATE SENATOR LOGAN.

The death of General and Senator John
A. Logan ends picturesque American
character which was forcing its way to the
front in our political history, with steadi-
ness and certainty. Forcing is the best word
for it was simply by the strength of very
fOrceful character that he nlade his way.
His education was limited, his vision of
national affairs was narrow, but he was in
the forum as he had been in the field, an
eminently forceful man. It may be said
with certainty that of all the conscien-
Gious, implacable, and utterly unforg living
enemies of the Southern section of their
country, none surpassed il honest hatred
John a. Logan. There was 20 affectati0n
of prejudice, no mean pandering to the
popular feeling of his section, no cam
paign mantle worn for season and laid
aside for the next occasion, but good,
square, abound hatred. He was man
who knew no fear-ln the field nor in his
party; no tricksJer who dealt in comprO
misses but an Ontspoken, braWnY butcher
in all things. He was as honest as the sun,
tuOAS Ii u0 tldO IitCo dN0 cC1Cu III l1OoV
corrupt period OF the American govern
ment; his life was as pure as woman's
though he had been prJminenG "a a time
in which virtue was not acGounted al adj
ditional recommendation FOR statesman,
and his hands were ever clean though
tally slasped with those who made
traffic of the welfare of the country. BGt
ills hatred Of the Southern people was I'm
dying-he neither comm;aerated them in
prostration, pitied them in their suffering,
lor sympathHgd with them in their up
ward marcel TO prosperity. To him they
we're as tbs heathen-aiiens fr2m all share
lii Americas future. His last public work
vas tue writing Of hfe@g Of the civil
var under the little CT ''trne Great Conspi-
racy." But while Gen. Logan imputed to
himself the possession Of the truest Amer
icanism, he was far from being an Amer
lean. Though born on the soil and trained
as the mass of her children are. he never
reched to the breadth and depth Of what
it is to be an American. His powerful
mind-for it was as powerful, if as un-
couth, as a ledge-hammar-Was not
broad-minG. His heart was loyal to the
army, to the government, to his section,
but its loyalty was not broad enough to
cover the American people. His vision
was fenced in by his party fealty. His
party dead, there could be no resurrection.
He could never understand that there are
~ oE
of whom, and a rapidly declining part,
formed the Republican party. To him,
his party was his country, and foe to it
was an enemy to the country. 1t was
constitutional with the man, for as
Democrat, up to the beginning Of the war,
he had been as intolerant of Republican,
ism. Gen Logan was soldier by prefer
ence, for as early as twenty years Of age he
was in the Mexican war as "a volunteer,
and into his political life he carried much
of the bluntness of speech and straight
forwardness of the soldier. His steady
rise was a thorn in the side of the other
Presidential aspirants of his party, for of
late years it could not be concealed that
no w CO GAC SOLllAS LIZ WAS Gu6 luUl
of the old soldier element of the party and
was. after Grant, the favorite of the
Grand Army Posts. In bis home life he
was peculiarly happy and In his wife had a
noble companion Of intellectual ability
and personal devotion which never tagged
in his service. 1t cannot be said with
truth that IN the South Gen. Logan's
death will be incurred in a way that his
virtues would demand. 1t might mourn
the brave soldier, the honest man; the sim
cere politician, but it cannot affect to
grieve over the absence of any pubic man
whose influence stood in the way Of the
happy, thorough, and speedy utilization OF
the American people. That is the highest
thought now in the minds of our people,
and great Americans are worth more or
rs to US, exactly in proportion to the aid
Instruction they give that thought. The
Hss taken up the Cry under which
Isllied tie country twenty-five
Union-the Union Of the
and whosoever Is
ION is against it.
soldier side of